Take Time for Yourself

Caring for a loved one with multiple myeloma can be a rather challenging full-time job. You have less time for yourself and more stress. But there are also many fulfilling aspects to being a caregiver. Every day you are doing something to improve your loved one's quality of life and well-being. Being a caregiver also gives you a unique opportunity to deepen your relationship with your loved one.

But here, too, there is a balancing act. You have to balance your loved one's needs with your own. Patients and caregivers living with multiple myeloma suggest the following to help maintain a sense of balance.

• Don't take on more responsibility than you can handle. Learn to ask for help and to accept it.
• Take on one thing at a time. If you have an overwhelming amount of things that need your attention, pick one task and work on it. Once you accomplish that task, move on to the next one.
• Make your lifestyle as healthy as possible by eating nutritious meals, limiting caffeine and alcohol, getting enough rest, exercising regularly, and balancing work and recreation.
• Schedule time to take a break and do things that you enjoy (every afternoon, or a few times each week).
• Turn to family and friends for love, support, and guidance. Also, consider joining a support group for caregivers.
• Seek counseling if the stress begins to feel overwhelming.

The best advice comes from people who are living with multiple myeloma. Here is some advice from multiple myeloma patients to caregivers:

"It's a roller coaster - the meds and the pain and the fear of the unknown all make life very interesting. Be flexible and understand that much that might be said in the heat of pain is not personal - it just sounds that way."

“I would tell them (caregivers) not to fear the disease but to understand that there will be good times and difficult times. Obviously, embrace those good times and work to get through the difficult times. Seek help and relief for yourself, and don't forget to continue living your own life."

"You will make a whole new set of wonderful friends (through support groups) that you can talk freely and openly with about your worries. You can get through it. Stay well rested and well nourished, and get rid of anything in your life that will cause you stress or conflict with your role as a caregiver. Allow friends, family and strangers help you."

“Don't be too hard on yourself. Know that the patient wants you to be okay."

“Take one day at a time. Look for the positive."

“Let the little things go, because some of the meds are not very nice to the patient's emotions. Constant prying by the caregiver exacerbates some of the issues. Don't try to do all things for all people."